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Artificial disc and uses thereforRelated Patent Categories: Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, Or Aids And Accessories Therefor, Implantable Prosthesis, Bone, Spine Bone, Including Spinal Disc Spacer Between Adjacent Spine BonesArtificial disc and uses therefor description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050273172, Artificial disc and uses therefor. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed to prosthetic devices which may be inserted into intervertebral spaces resulting from the removal of diseased or damaged intervertebral discs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Disc disease is a degenerative disease of the intervertebral disc characterized by chronic and disabling spine and upper extremity pain or sensory deficits. When a patient fails non-surgical treatment, discectomy is needed. Discectomy involves the removal of disc material from the space between two vertebrae, the neural foramen and spinal canal. Though discectomy relieves the pressure on the affected nerve root and spinal cord, discectomy creates a space between two vertebrae in the spinal column. To maintain the height of the space following removal of disc material, a piece of bone or a bone-filled cage is often fused into the disc space. One of the major disadvantages of fusion, however, is the loss of movement between the fused vertebral segments, which in turn leads to increased mobility in the spinal segments above and below the fusion predisposing them to degeneration, and, possibly, herniation. To obviate this problem, artificial discs have been designed. [0003] One of the early designs of artificial discs is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,777, and consists of a spring-loaded core and two end plates with spikes. Another type of artificial disc consists of a rubber core vulcanized to two titanium end plates that have posts to provide initial fixation and porous in-growth surfaces for long-term fixation (see, e.g., Enker, et al., Spine 18:1061-70 (1993); and Wigfield, et al., Spine 27(22): 2446-52 (2002)). Another type of artificial disc known in the art consists of a polyethylene core and two cobalt-chromium alloy end plates with spikes (see, e.g., Griffith, et al., Spine 19:1842-49 (1994); and Zeegers, et al., Eur. Spine 8:210-17 (1999)). All of the aforementioned discs have flat metal surfaces with spikes or posts to anchor and maintain the position of the disc in the disc space. The problems encountered by these discs are breakage or separation of the disc components and slippage of the implants. Another prior art device consists of a hydrogel core that is encased in a polyethylene jacket and is intended to preserve disc height while permitting normal range of motion (Klara and Ray, Spine 27(12):1374-77 (2002)); while yet another system uses bioceramic-coated three-dimensional fabric to maintain space height and allow bone in-growth to attach the artificial disc to the vertebral body (Takahata, et al., Spine 28:637-44 (2003)). [0004] There is, however, need in the art for an inexpensive, effective artificial disc that preserves the spacing between vertebrae, while providing adequate support without undue compression or slippage long term. The present intervertebral device serves this need. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention, in certain embodiments, is directed to prosthetic intervertebral devices designed to accommodate the specific morphological anatomy of vertebral endplates. Once inserted into the intervertebral disc space, the inventive devices aid in reconstruction of the disc space resulting from the removal of a single damaged or diseased disc or multiple damaged or diseased discs from any location in the spine. [0006] Thus, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a prosthetic intervertebral device consisting essentially of a unitary body comprising an elastomer, such as a silicone elastomer or a silicone-like elastomer. The prosthetic intervertebral devices according to the present invention may have any appropriate shape, including those that are rectangular (i.e., a three-dimensional rectangular body), rectangular with one or more recessed or rounded edges, disc- or "hockey puck"-shaped (oval), or contoured. Preferably the prosthetic intervertebral device consists essentially of an elastomer, such as a silicone-containing elastomer or a silicone-like elastomer, more preferably the prosthetic intervertebral device consists essentially of medical grade silicone, having a durometer (hardness) of about 10 D to about 400 D, and even more preferably about 20 D to about 300 D or 25 D to about 200 D. [0007] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for preserving intervertebral disc space after discectomy comprising implanting the intervertebral device of the present invention into the intervertebral disc space. [0008] These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading the details of the structure of the devices and methods of use, as set forth below more fully. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the present invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. [0010] FIG. 1 is a left side elevation view of the spinal column (A) showing the cervical spinal region (A1), the thoracic spinal region (A2), the lumbar spinal region (A3), and the sacral spinal region (A4). [0011] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of FIG. 1 showing the front and left sides of lumbar vertebrae (the A3 region of FIG. 1) as well as one embodiment of the inventive intervertebral device (D). [0012] FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the inventive device positioned on the superior surface of a contoured inferior vertebral endplate. FIG. 3B is a front elevation view illustrating an embodiment of the inventive device positioned on the superior surface of the contoured inferior vertebral endplate. [0013] FIG. 4A is a right side elevation view of one embodiment of the inventive device positioned on inferior surface of a superior vertebral endplate. FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the inventive device positioned on the inferior surface of a superior vertebral endplate. [0014] FIG. 5A is a side elevational view of a rectangular embodiment of an intervertebral device according to the present invention with exemplary measurements shown. FIG. 5B is a side-sectional view of the intervertebral device shown in FIG. 5A. [0015] FIG. 6A is a side elevational view of a recessed-edge rectangular embodiment of an intervertebral device according to the present invention with exemplary measurements shown. FIG. 6B is a side-sectional view of the intervertebral device shown in FIG. 6A. [0016] FIG. 7A is a side elevational view of a contoured embodiment of an intervertebral device according to the present invention. FIG. 7B is a side-sectional view of the intervertebral device shown in FIG. 7A. [0017] FIG. 8A is a side elevational view of a disc-shaped or puck-shaped embodiment of an intervertebral device according to the present invention. FIG. 8B is a side-sectional view of the intervertebral device shown in FIG. 8A. [0018] FIG. 9A is a side-sectional view of the contoured embodiment of the artificial disc shown in FIGS. 7 and 7B. The sites of thickness measurements are shown. FIG. 9B is a chart showing the average and standard deviation change in dimension for a 30 D contoured disc at one million cycles. FIG. 9C is a chart showing the thickness change in mm for a 30 D contoured disc at five million cycles. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] Before devices and methods of the present invention are described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology or apparatus described, as such methods or apparatus may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by appended claims. Continue reading about Artificial disc and uses therefor... Full patent description for Artificial disc and uses therefor Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Artificial disc and uses therefor patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Artificial disc and uses therefor or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method of inserting an expandable intervertebral implant without overdistraction Next Patent Application: Expandable articulating intervertebral implant Industry Class: Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Artificial disc and uses therefor patent info. 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